US3722425A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods of sorting or selecting articles on a conveyor path and apparatus used therefor
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-09-08
•
Granted: 1973-03-27
•
Expires: 1990-09-08
Abstract
Abstract The sorting and selecting of articles on a conveyor path in which a code carrying means is associated with an article moving along the conveyor path, a selected code on the code carrying means is set, with the code carrying means and articles associated therewith being moved along the conveyor path until the pre-set code on the code carrying means activates automatically a discharge means to discharge the article associated with the code carrying means from the conveyor path at the preselected position.
Inventors
- 👤 C Allen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 08:36
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/34; B65G47/46; B65G47/48; B65G47/485; B65G47/487
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
318 words
Apparatus for sorting and selecting articles on a single rail conveyor path comprising: a substantially horizontal conveyor main rail having a plurality of branch rails extending therefrom, a continuous horizontal conveyor chain operating inside said main conveyor rail carrying attachments associated with the articles, a plurality of conveying attachments engaged with said conveyor chain and arranged to move the carrying attachments along said conveyor main rail, a plurality of code carrying means mounted on said conveyor chain, said code carrying means having a plurality of members mechanically movable in a lateral direction from a neutral position to a coding position, said code carrying means being arranged to be associated with an article being moved along said conveyor main rail by the conveying attachments, a code setting station including remotely controlled selectable setting means which can be activated so that a code will be set on the code carrying means as it moves through the station, at least two code cancelling means, one preceding the code setting station and one following the code setting station, the cancelling means following the code setting station being optionally activated by an operator and code cancelling means preceding the code setting station being continuously actived to clear any pre-set codes on the code carrying means, switch blades associated with each rail which, on activation, guide the carrying attachments in a lateral direction onto the branch rails, a plurality of code reading stations each corresponding to an individual switch blade which, upon mechanically decoding a unique code associated with their respective branch rail, activates the corresponding switch blade, said conveying chain being supported within a channel having rollers to minimize side movement, and supports along the base of The channel to minimize vertical movement and said code carrying means having support members engageable with supporting surfaces associated with said channel to support said code carrying members as they are moved along said conveying paths.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
318 words
Apparatus for sorting and selecting articles on a single rail conveyor path comprising: a substantially horizontal conveyor main rail having a plurality of branch rails extending therefrom, a continuous horizontal conveyor chain operating inside said main conveyor rail carrying attachments associated with the articles, a plurality of conveying attachments engaged with said conveyor chain and arranged to move the carrying attachments along said conveyor main rail, a plurality of code carrying means mounted on said conveyor chain, said code carrying means having a plurality of members mechanically movable in a lateral direction from a neutral position to a coding position, said code carrying means being arranged to be associated with an article being moved along said conveyor main rail by the conveying attachments, a code setting station including remotely controlled selectable setting means which can be activated so that a code will be set on the code carrying means as it moves through the station, at least two code cancelling means, one preceding the code setting station and one following the code setting station, the cancelling means following the code setting station being optionally activated by an operator and code cancelling means preceding the code setting station being continuously actived to clear any pre-set codes on the code carrying means, switch blades associated with each rail which, on activation, guide the carrying attachments in a lateral direction onto the branch rails, a plurality of code reading stations each corresponding to an individual switch blade which, upon mechanically decoding a unique code associated with their respective branch rail, activates the corresponding switch blade, said conveying chain being supported within a channel having rollers to minimize side movement, and supports along the base of The channel to minimize vertical movement and said code carrying means having support members engageable with supporting surfaces associated with said channel to support said code carrying members as they are moved along said conveying paths.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the switch blade, on activation, descends from a position clear of the rails to engage at opposite ends with the main rail and with the branch rail to lift an approaching carrying attachment off the main rail and thence guide it laterally and downwardly onto the branch rail.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
122 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said code carrying means comprises a support frame and said members comprise pins distributed in a vertical plane, slidably mounted and arranged to project from either side of the frame, frictional engagement means retaining the pins in the set position, said selectable setting means comprising a pivotal arm movable from a position parallel to the frame, frictional engagement means retaining the pins in the set position, said selectable setting means comprising a pivotal arm movable from a position parrallel to the frame to an inclined position to engage with the pins and set a code onto the code carrying means, and a force generating means to move the arm to the inclined position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
311 words
Apparatus for sorting and selecting articles on a single rail conveyor path comprising: a substantially horizontal conveyor main rail having a plurality of branch rails extending therefrom, a continuous horizontal conveyor chain operating inside said main conveyor rail carrying attachments associated with the articles, a plurality of conveying attachments engaged with said conveyor chain and arranged to move the carrying attachments along said conveyor main rail, a plurality of code carrying means mounted on said conveyor chain, said code carrying means having a plurality of members mechanically movable in a lateral direction from a neutral position to a coding position, said code carrying means being arranged to be associated with an article being moved along said conveyor main rail by the conveying attachments, a code setting station including remotely controlled selectable setting means which can be activated so that a code will be set on the code carrying means as it moves through the station, at least two code cancelling means, one preceding the code setting station and one following the code setting station, the cancelling means following the code setting station being optionally activated by an operator and code cancelling means preceding the code setting station being continuously actived to clear any pre-set codes on the code carrying means, switch blades associated with each branch rail which, on activation, guide the carrying attachments in a lateral direction onto the branch rails, a plurality of code reading stations each corresponding to an individual switch blade which, upon mechanically decoding a unique code associated with their respective branch rail, activates the corresponding switch blade, the switch blade, on activation, descending from a position clear of the rails to engage at opposite ends with the main rail and with the branch rail to lift an approaching carrying attachment off the main rail and thence guide it laterally and downwardly onto the branch rail.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
311 words
Apparatus for sorting and selecting articles on a single rail conveyor path comprising: a substantially horizontal conveyor main rail having a plurality of branch rails extending therefrom, a continuous horizontal conveyor chain operating inside said main conveyor rail carrying attachments associated with the articles, a plurality of conveying attachments engaged with said conveyor chain and arranged to move the carrying attachments along said conveyor main rail, a plurality of code carrying means mounted on said conveyor chain, said code carrying means having a plurality of members mechanically movable in a lateral direction from a neutral position to a coding position, said code carrying means being arranged to be associated with an article being moved along said conveyor main rail by the conveying attachments, a code setting station including remotely controlled selectable setting means which can be activated so that a code will be set on the code carrying means as it moves through the station, at least two code cancelling means, one preceding the code setting station and one following the code setting station, the cancelling means following the code setting station being optionally activated by an operator and code cancelling means preceding the code setting station being continuously actived to clear any pre-set codes on the code carrying means, switch blades associated with each branch rail which, on activation, guide the carrying attachments in a lateral direction onto the branch rails, a plurality of code reading stations each corresponding to an individual switch blade which, upon mechanically decoding a unique code associated with their respective branch rail, activates the corresponding switch blade, the switch blade, on activation, descending from a position clear of the rails to engage at opposite ends with the main rail and with the branch rail to lift an approaching carrying attachment off the main rail and thence guide it laterally and downwardly onto the branch rail.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which said conveying chain is supported within a channel having rollers to minimize side movement and supports along the base of the channel to minimize vertical movement, and said code carrying means having support members engageable with supporting surfaces associated with said channel to support said code carrying members as they are moved along said conveying paths.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |